Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-06-25
A STRIKING CASE.

In the First District Court at Ogden on
Tuesday last a little incident occurred
which illustrates well the stand taken by
the Mormons on the prosecutions now
going on against them, and more particu-
larly the views of Judge Henderson, in
good straight language, upon the suppress
sion OF the great Utah evil.
Peter j. hammers was called for SEN
tence in the court above mentioned,
when the following dialogue took place:
The Court-Mr. hammers, you have been
convicted upon your plea of guilty of the
crime of unlawful cohabitation. Have you
anything to say why the sentence of the
court should not now be pronounced?
The Defendant-Your Honor, L always
like to speak in favor of the truth, and l
would like to ask you question; that is, if
law of God?
The Court-Well, Mr.. hammers, that is q
subject upon which l shall most certainly
decline to enter. That is beyond my juris-
diction entirely-I have nothing to do with
that. The question for you to determine is
whether you will obey the laws of this coun-
try or not.
u.
how wise man oan sit in Judgment upon
his fellow-creature without knowing whether
he is guilty or not. l believe in the doctrine
of revelation, because know that God has
revealed himself in this latter day. That
law is revealed from heaven; l know that.
But you, Judge, don't know that. Then how
can you Judge me-sit in judgment upon me
and upon my brethren? l would like to
know that. This is the reason why tell
you that sentence should not be passed
upon me and upon my brethren, because you
can't judge in righteous Judgment. Every
man who will obey the gospel of Jesus
Christ will know for himself, through the
spirit of revelation, whether we are guilty
or not-by obedience to the laws of the gos-
pei, being baptized for the remission of
your sins after repentance, and having re-
ceived the gift of the Holy Ghost-you will
know for yourself that we and our brethren
are not guilty. And the time will come
that you, Judge, and this whole court, will
know that you are Judging a righteous peo-
pie; and this same law, wherefore / am
criminal to-day, will rule the whole world
and cleanse the world from its iniquity and
impurity. This much I have to say why
judgment should not be passed upon me.
The Court-The question of your guilt or
innocence, Mr.. hammers, you settled
yourself by pleading guilty-and that is
the end of it, so far as l am concerned. If
you have any idea, however, that this prao-
tice can be carried on here against the de-
termination of the Government, you will
have to live and learn much yet. For my
self, feel as sure about the determination
of the Government in this respect as you do
about that so-called revelation being the
will of the Almighty, and l feel perfectly
certain that the Government is determined
that this practice shall be discontinued.
And the people who persist in following
this practice will, as said before have to
live and learn, some of them by bitter ex-
perience in the Penitentiary, that the Gov
ernment will be obeyed in this matter.
1t is needless to say that hammers was
sent to the penitentiary, where it is to be
hoped he will digest Judge Henderson's
sensible little speech, and emerge from
confinement wiser, if not sadder man.